Adhesive applying machine



H. F. COX, JR

ADHESIVE CLIPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1940 3 Sheets- Sheet 1 Feb. 17, 1942.

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ADHESIVE CLIPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1940 5 SheetsSheet 2 IN VEN To W ATTORNEYs Feb. 17,. 1942. E ox JR ADHESIVE CLIPPING MACHINE s' Sheets-Sheet s Filed Feb. 28, 1940 INVEN OR.

/ ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 17, 1942 ADHESIVE APPLYING MACHINE Herbert F. Cox, Jr., Murray Hill, N. J., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 28, 1940, Serial No. 321,303

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to' an adhesive applying machine having an intaglio roller for imprinting thermoplastic adhesive or the like in a design on a strip or web of fibre stock and has particular reference to an improved adhesive reservoir for such a machine.

In thermoplastic adhesiv applying machines the applying roller usually rotates in a stationary reservoir which contains a charge of the thermoplastic adhesive. As the roller revolves it carries up a film of the adhesive and applies it to the web as the latter is brought into engagement with the roller. The reservoir is usually heated in order to keep the adhesive in a fluid condition.

To clean the roller it mustgbe removed from the reservoir and this usually entails considerable dismantling of the machine. The machine is sometimes constructed so that the roller and its associated parts are housed in a part of the machine which may be readily tilted back to remove the roller from the reservoir. This construction, however, makes the machine rather bulky and requires considerable parts to properly hold the roller relative to the reservoir.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming these difiiculties by providing an improved construction of reservoir of small size which may be brought into operating position alongside the applying roller when the machine is in use and which may be readily shifted out of engagement with the roller when the machine is not in use.

Obviously coating or other surface covering material could be used in such a reservoir in place of the thermoplastic adhesive. Having a small capacity, the adhesive, coating or other material need not be held inactive for long periods of time as in the usual reservoir and consequently a mass of unused material isnot subjected to deterioration.

An object, therefore, of the invention is the provision in an intaglio roller adhesive applying machine of a floating reservoir for the adhesive wherein the intaglio roller revolves against the outside of the reservoir adjacent an open side thereof and carries up the adhesive on its surface in the usual manner thereby eliminating the necessity of having the roller immersed in the adhesive at all times.

Another object is the provision of such an improved adhesive reservoir wherein the reservoir may be readily shifted into and out of operating position relative to the rollerso that when cleaning of the roller is required a simple swinging movement of the reservoir frees the roller so that it is accessible from all sides.

Another object is the provision of a reservoir of this character wherein the open side of the reservoir which is adjacent the roller when in use may be readily closed prior to swinging the reservoir away from the roller so that the adhesive in the reservoir may be retained therein while the reservoir is in such a non-operating position and this cuts of! the adhesive from the roller and prevents freezing of the roller in case the adhesive should harden.

' Another object is the provision in such a reservoir of improved means of heating the adhesive in order to maintain it in a fluid condition in a more eflicientmanner.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the I invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view of an adhesive applying machine embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and showing parts of the machine in different position.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings disclose the principal parts of a thermoplastic adhesive applying machine in which a film of thermoplastic adhesive is imprinted in a design upon a web A of fibre'stock such as is used in making fibre containers. After application of the adhesive to the web, the latter may be cut into container blanks which include portions of the adhesive design located adjacent predetermined edges of the blank and in the seam areas. An example of such a container using adhesive seams in this fashion is the popular fibre milk container disclosed in United States Patent 2,085,979, issued July 6, 1937, to

John M. Hothersall.

The web A is preferably fed through the machine over an idler roller ll (Fig. 2) which is feed rollers for advancing the web through the machine.

outer end.

The pressure roller I1 is located directly above the applying roller l6 and is mounted on a crossshaft 23 journaled in bearings 24 formed in the side frames I4. This shaft is rotated in time with the applying roller shaft I8 through the medium of a gear 25 carried on the outer end of the pressure roller shaft. Gear 25 meshes with the gear 2|.

The applying roller I6 is preferably of intaglio character and it is this roller that imprints a thermoplastic adhesive design on the web A as the latter passes between the two feed rollers. For this purpose the applying roller is formed with intaglio or design grooves 21 which are etched on its outer surface.

The intaglio applying roller l6 picks up the thermoplastic adhesive from a floating trough or hopper like reservoir 3| which is located adjacent the roller and which contains a supply of the adhesive maintained in liquid form. This reservoir extends along one side of the roller for nearly its full length.

The reservoir 3| includes a pair of end walls 32 which are cut away along curved lines 33 so that they will fit around and closely contact the applying roller. The back of the reservoir is preferably of triangular cross section and is formed integrally with the end walls 32. This rear portion comprises an outer wall section 36, a bottom wall section 31, and an inner wall section 36. These wall sections enclose a chamber 39 through which a heating medium, preferably hot oil, is circulated to maintain the adhesive in the reservoir in a fluid condition.

Circulation of the hot oil is effected by way of an inlet pipe 42 and an outlet pipe 43 which communicate with the interior of the chamber. These pipes are secured in the end walls 32 and connect with any suitable source of the heating medium.

The reservoir 3| is provided with a stationary doctor blade 45 which constitutes the bottom of the reservoir. This doctor blade is backed up by a less flexible support blade 45a, both blades being interposed betweena pair of clamp plates 46 which are screwed together to make a unitary blade structure and the entire unit is secured by bolts 41 to the bottom wall section 31 of the lower rear portion of the reservoir.

Slots 48 are cut in the doctor blade 45 and are larger than the bolts which extend through the blade. Clamp plates 46 are employed to cover the slots and these allow for adjustment of the blade unit toward and away from the applying roller. This adjustment may be accurately made and the adjusted parts located in adjusted position by a plurality of setscrews 49 which are carried in a depending rib 5| formed on the bottom wall section 31. The inner ends of these setscrews abut against the rear edge of the blade unit.

The front of the reservoir 3| is provided with a movable hollow gate 55 the walls of which enclose a chamber 56 through which the heating medium hereinbefore mentioned may be circulated for assisting in maintaining the adhesive in the reservoir in a fluid condition. At its upper end the gate is carried on the inner ends of a pair of'pipes 51, 58 which serve as pivot shafts for the gate. These pipes are secured in and extend through lugs 59 which are forme on the upper edges of the reservoir end walls 32.

The inner ends of the pipes 51, 58 communicate with the interior of the gate chamber 56 and ,serve as inlet and outlet pipes for circulating the hot oil through the chamber. The opposite ends of the pipes connect with the source of the heating medium hereinbefore mentioned.

The reservoir gate 55 is adapted to be swung into one of two positions, an open position as shown in Fig. 2 or a closed position as illustrated in Fig. 3. In the closed position the lower end -of the gate engages against the lower end of the inner wall section 38 of the rear of the reservoir thus entirely closing off the front and bottom of the reservoir and thereby preventing discharge of the adhesive therefrom. To insure better closing, the lower end of the gate is formed with a depending lip 6| and it will be apparent that this insures a proper sealing of the reservoir when the gate is closed.

When the gate is in an open position (Fig. 2) the lip 6| is spaced away from the rear of the reservoir and this provides an opening 62 adjacent the bottom of the reservoir through which the adhesive may flow out onto the doctor blade .45. In this position the lower end of the gate is adjacent the applying roller I6. The lip 6| and the adjacent lower end wall of the gate are curved to fit the roller closely.

Movement of the gate 55 into open or closed position is preferably effected by the turning of a pair of thumb screws 65. There is one of these screws disposed at each end of the reservoir and they are threaded into lugs 66 which extend vertically from the reservoir end walls 32. The outer ends of these actuating screws are formed with large heads 61 to facilitate rotation of the screws. The inner end of each screw is formed with a ball 68 which is retained in a universal joint seat 69 formed in 2. lug 1| which extends vertically from the upper end of the gate.

The reservoir unit as just explained and generally indicated by the numeral 3| is movable so tightly together by bolts 16 to hold the reservoir in adjusted position on the rod. 7

The rear of the reservoir 3| is also formed with a pair of legs 13 which depend from the reservoir end walls 32. The lower end of each leg carries a roller 19 which engages against a pad 8| secured to the inner end of a long screw 82. There are two of these screws-and they are threaded into lugs 83 which extend vertically from the machine base |5. The outer ends of the screwsare formed with wrench heads 84 to facilitate turning of the screws.

Thus by turning the screws 82 in one direction the pads 8| push inwardly against the rollers 19 and thereby shift the reservoir unit toward the applying roller I6 into operating position as shown in Fig. 2. When the screws are rotated in the opposite direction the pads 8| are drawn'outwardly and this permits the reservoir unit to fall away from the applying roller and into the non-operating position shown in Fig. 3.

The adjusting screws 82 also permit a desirable minor adjustment of the blade 45 against the roller it so that variation can be made in the flexibility of the blade and its attendant pressure in accordancewith the viscosity of the thermoplastic or other material being passed to the roller.

When the reservoir unit is in operating position as shown in Fig. 2, the curved sections 33 of its end walls fit closely against the outer surface of the applying roller IS, The doctor b ade 45 of the unit also presses against the roller and the gate 55 is in open position so that its curved endv is close to the roller but does not touch it. This setting of the reservoir unit permits the adhesive contained therein to flow through the reservoir opening 62 and come into direct contact with the roller.

Hence as the applying roller l6 rotates in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2) it picks up in its intaglio grooves 21 some of the adhesive in .contact with its-outer surface. As the coated surface of the roller passes the doctor blade all of the adhesive excepting that in the intaglio ment of the pin shifts the reservoir support rod 13 back and forth endwise and thereby similarly, shifts the reservoir and its attached doctor blade along the surface of the applying roller,

It is thought that the inventionand many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,

grooves is scraped off and remains in they in or adding more adhesive material at the open top.

When it is desired to clean the applying roller the gate 55 is first closed as shown in Fig. 3.

This cuts off the supply of adhesive delivered -to the roller but leaves a small amount on the doctor blade outside of the gate. Thisremaining adhesive is soon used up, however, and the machine is allowed to continue operation until it is exhausted.

With the gate 55 closed the reservoir unit may be readily shifted away from the roller by manipulation of the actuating screws 82' as hereinbefore explained. This leaves the roller out in the clear where it is readily accessible from all sides.

Provision is made for distributing the adhesive across the face of the applying roller. and for preventing the engaging doctor blade 45 from wearing grooves in the roller. For this purpose the'entire reservoir unit is maintained in a reciprocatory motion transversely of the machine.

' This is brought about by a shifting device which includes an eccentrically mounted pin 81 (Fig.

1) which operates in a groove 88 of a collar 89 carried on an outer end of the reservoir support rod 13. The pin is carried in a disc 9| which is mounted on a disc shaft journaled in bearings formed in brackets 92 secured to the machine base l5.

The disc 9| is continuously rotated by a worm gear 93 which is carried on the disc shaft. The worm gear meshes with and is driven by a worm 94 mounted on adrive shaft 95 joumaled in bearings 98 formed in the side frames l4. This drive shaft carries a spur gear 91 which meshes with and is driven by the main gear 25. g

Thus the continuously rotating shaft 95 rotates the worm 94, the worm gear 93, and the disc 9| and thereby moves the pin 91 eccentrically in a small circular path while it is engaged in the groove 88 of the collar 89. This eccentric move-.

construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. ma machine for applying adhesive to a moving web of material, the combination of a roller for receiving adhesive and for applying it to the moving web, a reservoirfor holding said adhesive movably mounted relative to said roller, means for bodily moving said reservoir for bringing it into operatingposition adjacent said roller or for moving itout of operating position clear of the roller so that the latter may be readily 1 accessible for cleaning, and a movable wall on said reservoir having one position to permit fiow of adhesive therefrom when in said operating position adjacent said roller, 'said movable wall being shiftable into another position to shut off the flow of adhesive from said reservoir when the latter is moved out. of operating position and clear of the roller.

2. In a machine for applying adhesive to a moving web of material, 'the combinationof a roller forreceiving adhesive and for applying it to the moving web, a reservoir for supplying said adhesive, said reservoir being supported for bodily movement laterally of said roller,,and means for bodily moving said reservoir laterally of said roller, s eh lateral movement bringing the reservoir int woperating position adjacent said roller or moving it out of operating position clear of the roller so that the latter may be readily accessible for cleaning, and means for imparting bodily movement to said reservoir longitudinally of said roller for distributing said adhesive on the roller and for preventing the wearing of grooves therein.

3. In a machine for applying adhesive to a moving web of-material, the combination of a roller for receiving adhesive and for applying it to the moving web, a reservoir for supplying said adhesive pivotally mounted adjacent said roller, means for pivotally and bodily moving said reservoir laterally of and towards and away from said roller to permit access to all portions of the latter, and means for bodily moving said reservoir longitudinally of said roller for distributing said adhesive on the. roller and for preventing the wearing ofgrooves therein.

4. In a machine for applying adhesive to a moving web of material, the combination of a, roller for receiving adhesive and for applying it to the moving web, a reservoir for supplying said adhesive, said reservoir being movable relative to said roller for selectively bringing it into operating position adjacent said roller or for moving it out of operating position clear of the roller so that the latter may be readily accessible for cleaning, a doctor blade secured to said r 'servoir and movable'therewithfor regulating the thickness of the adhesive on the roller and for retaining the excess adhesive in the reservoir, and a movable gate on said reservoir having one position to permit flow of adhesive therefrom when in said operating position adjacent said roller,

said movable gate being shiftable into another said roller, a reservoir for holding said adhesive,

means for bodily moving said reservoir laterally of said roller to bring it toward the same and into operating position or to move it away from and out of operating position clear of the roller' so that the latter may be readily accessible for cleaning, means for bodily moving said reservoir longitudinally of said roller for distributing said adhesive on the latter and for preventing the wearing of grooves therein, and a doctor blade secured to said reservoir and movable therewith for regulating the thickness of the adhesive on the roller and for retaining the excess adhesive in the reservoir.

6. In a machine for applying thermoplastic adhesive to a moving web of material, the combination of a roller for receiving the adhesive and for applying it to the moving web, a reservoir located adjacent said roller for holding said adhesive, and a gate in said reservoir adapted to be moved into a position to allow for the adhesive to flow out of said reservoir and onto said roller or to be moved into another position to close the reservoir so that the adhesive will not issue therefrom.

7. In a machine for applying thermoplastic adhesive to a moving web of material, the combination of a roller for receiving the adhesive and for applying it to the moving web, a reservoir located adjacent said roller for supplying said adhesive, a gate disposed in said reservoir and adapted for movement into one of two positions, one position allowing the adhesive to flow out of said reservoir and onto said roller and the other position closing oi the reservoir so that the adhesive will not issue therefrom, and means for selectively moving said gate.

8. In a machine for applying thermoplastic adhesive to a moving web of material, the combination of a roller for receiving the adhesive and for applying it to the moving web, a reser-' voir located adjacent said roller for holding said adhesive, said reservoir having a chamber therein, a gate disposed in said reservoir and also having a chamber, said gate being movable into a position to allow the adhesive to flow outoi said reservoir and onto said roller or into another position to close off the reservoir so that the adhesive will be prevented from issuing therefrom, and means for circulating a heating medium through said chambers formaintaining the adhesive in the reservoir in a fluid condition.

9. In a machine for applying thermoplastic adhesive to a moving web of material, the combination of an intaglio roller for receiving the adhesive and for applying it to the moving web in a pattern, and a trough-like reservoir mountedadjacent said roller for supplying said adhesive, said reservoir having end walls shaped to fit partially around said roller, a hollow rear wall section formed integrally with said end walls and enclosing a heating chamber, a doctor blade a-djacent the bottom of said trough-like reservoir for engaging. against said roller with a scraping action to confine said adhesive to predetermined parts of said roller, and a gate extending along the side of said reservoir opposite said rear wall section and pivotally connected to said end walls for selectively opening said reservoir adjacent said doctor blade to allow the adhesive to flow against the doctor blade and into engagement with'said roller or for closing said reservoir to retain the adhesive therein and out of contact with said doctor blade.

HERBERT F. COX, JR. 

